Slidable jaw pieces for open-end wrench



June 11, 1957 H. c. BLASDE LL SLIDABLE JAW PIECES FOR OPEN-END WRENCH Filed April 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 20 J4 U14 6/ V 1 I" INVENTOR. Han/nab C. alps-0:44

June 11, 1957 H. c. BLASDELL 2,795,150

' SLIDABLE JAW PIECES FOR OPEN-END WRENCH Filed'April 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

How/m0 c. 544:0! B

A T'TOR/V' r- United States Patent l SLIDA-BLE 'JAW PIECES -FOR OPEN-END WRENCH Howard c. Blasdell, ram, Mich.

Application April 17, 1956, Serial No.578,655 Claims. (Cl. 81-479 This invention generally relates to slidable jaw pieces for open end wrenches and more particularly pertains to an open end wrench having parallel jaws with at least one sliding -lock disposed over the jaw.

Slidable jaw Wrenches have been employed "heretofore to facilitate the tightening of a nut or bolt without removing the wrench therefrom, however, the several devices of the prior art have not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuch as they are complicated in design and construction, expensive to manufacture, difficult to keep in repair, and generally lack the strength characteristics required in ordinary use.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide a slidable jaw open end wrench which is simple in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, easy to repair, and which is strong enough to resist any of the stresses occasioned While in use.

An object of the invention is to provide a slidable jaw wrench having spaced parallel jaws defining an open ended mouth for receiving and retaining the nut with the jaws providingst-rength characteristics comparable to the usual open end wrenches not having the ratchet feature.

An object of the invention is to provide at least one sliding lock over at least one jaw which is capable of engaging "a nut or bolt in a driving "direction and which is capable of moving out of the area between the fixed jaws to permit a nut to turn relative to the jaws.

An object of the invention is toprovide a block with a lar enat area for engaging the nut.

An "object "of the invention is to provide a block having a widthdimension coextensive with the jaw width dimension so that the block is supported by the jaw so as to distribute force against the block over the jaw face.

An object of the invention is 'to provide a slidable jaw end wrench which is capable of engaging both hexagonal and square nuts or bolts.

Anobject of the invention is to provide a slidable j-aw wrench having only one slidable jaw block and which is capable ofdriving and ratcheting relative to a hexagonal or square nut or bolt.

An object of the invention is to provide an open end wrench having two sliding blocks disposed over each of the wrench jaws capable of engaging either a hexagonal or square nut.

An object of the invention is to provide co-acting integrating means in a wrench employing two sliding blocks wherein the sliding blocks are coordinate from equal movement into and out of engaging position relative to a nut.

These and other-objects 'of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of the slidable jaw end wrench embodying the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a wrench head embodying the invention illustrating the use of a single sliding block;

2,795,160 Patented June 11, 1957 Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the wrench in ratcheting condition;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken on the line 3-3 thereof; I

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken on the line 4-4;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a wrench employing two oppositely disposed sliding blocks;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 taken on the line 66 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 5 showing another embodiment of the invention employing a pivotally mounted beam connected to sliding blocks via pivotally mounted arms for coordinating the movement of the blocks;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 7 taken on the line 8-3 thereof;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 7 taken on the line99 thereof;

"Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 7 taken on the line 10-10 thereof;

Fig. ll is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the wrench in driving condition relative to a square nut; and

Pig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the wrench in ratcheting condition relative to a square 'nut.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the open mouth slidable jaw end wrench disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises heads it l't'aA and 10B, attached to handles 11, 11A, and 113; each having open ended mouths 12, 12A and 12B, defined by spaced parallel jaws 13 and 14, 15 and 1-6, and 16 and 17 so that a nut can be received directly into the mouths of the wrenches and it is to be noted that the jaws are spaced apart a sufficientdistance to permit a nut to turn between them in the absence of a sliding block, and a sliding block disposed adjacent the jaw '14 of the device seen in Fig. 1; slidin'gblocks 19 and 20 disposed over the jaws 15 and 16 respectively of the device seen in Fig. 5, and sliding blocks 22 and 23 disposed respectively over the jaws 16 and 17 of the device seen in Fig. 7 and the blocks are capable of engaging a nut in one rotational direction of wrench movement and capable of ratcheting past a nut in the opposite rotational direction. 7

More particularly, referring to the device seen in Figs. 1-4, 11, and 12, the head 10 is equipped with a'core section 30 having a slot 31 formed therein defined by an outside 'wall 32 on the same plane as the jaw 14 and an inside wall 33 spaced therefrom and parallel thereto; the slot is interrupted by the tangs 34 and 35 extending into the area of the slot 31 so as to define a block receiving chamber above the tangs 3435 and a spring receiving chamber below the tangs 34-35 wherein the spring 36 is disposed; the block is equipped with a fiat stem 37 disposable between the tabs 34-35 and a base 38 disposed in the spring chamber of the slot 31 so as to contact the spring 36 on one side and the tangs 34-35 on the other side with the tangs 34-35 acting as a stop against the base 38 with the base 38 providing a broad contact for the spring 36; the block 18 is equipped with an arcuate cam face'39 for'cooperating with a nut corner in displacing the block 18 from the area between the jaws 13 and 14 and the core 30 is equipped with face plates 40 and 41 which are attached thereto via the screws 43 so that the plates contain the spring 36 and the stem 37 and base 38 in the slot 31 and it is to be noted that the block 18 has a fiat area co-extensive with the thickness of the wrench including the core 37 and the face plates 40 and 41 so as to present a large fiat area relative to a nut to be rotated thereby and to distribute force's over the entire jaw surface.

spring 56 urges-the base 55 outwarfdly"of' the wrench mouth; the elements on the other jawlare substantially similar and oppositely disposed-in that the sliding block 19 is mounted onthe jaw 15 with the stem 57 lying in the slot 53 and the base SS-disposed in the slot 51 with the spring 59urging the block inwardly of the mouth of the wrench. The wrench is equipped with a core 59 and face plates 61 and 62 attached thereto as by the screws 63 so that the face plates 61 and 62 secure the sliding blocks 19 and 20 in the slots 52 and 53 and it is to be noted that the blocks 19 and 20 are of a dimension so as to overlie not-only the core 59 but also the face plates 61 and 62.

The wrench seen in Figs. 6 to includes slots 70 and 71 disposed adjacent the jaws 16 and 17 respectively and the sliding block 22 is equipped with a stem 73 connected to the base 74 which lies in the slot 70 while the stem 73lies in the slot 75; the other slot 71 communicates through the side wallof the jaw 17 via the slot 76 and the sliding block 23 is equipped with a stem 77 disposed in the slot 76 and a base 78 disposed in the slot 71; the

arms 79 and 80 are disposed in the slots 70 and 71 respectively and are pivotally connected to the bases 70 and 78 respectively, as per the pins 81 and 82; the other ends of the arms79 and 80 are pivotally connected to the walking beam 83 at either end thereof by the pins 84 and 85 respectively and the walking beam 83 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 86. The head 10B has two spring receiving recesses 86 and 87 on either side of the beam pivot point 86 and the springs 89and 90 are disposed in the. recesses 87 and 88 respectively and urge the walking beam in opposite directions on opposite sides of the pivot point 86 so as to bias the sliding block 23 outwardly of the wrench mouth 12B and bias the sliding block 22 inwardly of the wrench mouth 12B; the walking beam 83 via the arms 79 and 80 coordinates the movement of the sliding blocks 22 and 23 with each other so that they move equal distances in opposite directions.

The sliding block bases 74 and 78 and the connecting necks 73 and 77 are retained inxthe slots via the face plates 91 and 92 which are secured by the screws 93.

It is to be noted that in all the wrench modifications that the face plates fit over the core on either side thereof and strengthen the core materially and add their strength to the jaw area to reinforce same. The jaws comprise the adjacent core area and the adjacent edges of the face plates and the sliding blocks are adapted to ride over the adjacent core area and over the edges of the face plates so as to distribute any force exerted against the block over the entire structure.

In operation, referring .to the device seen in Figs. 1-4, 11, and 12, it is to be noted that the hexagonal nut is engaged between the jaw 13 and the sliding block 18 and is adapted to be driven in the direction of the. arrow 95 by the wrench, Fig. 1, whereas, (in Fig. 2, the nut 96 is adapted to be bypassed by the wrenchjin a rotational direction as designated by the arrow 97 in that the corner of the nut 95 engages the cam surface 39 of the block. 18 so as to cam the block against the spring 36 and so that the block moves out of the mouth area of the wrench. into the head slot 32 above the tangs 34 35 so as to permit the wrench to bypass the nut in the nondriving rotational direction whereupon movement of the wrench in the direction. of .the arrow 96 will again permit the spring 36 to move the sliding bloclcf18 out to thelposition seen in Fig. 1 so as to .drive the nutin the rotational direction indicated by the arrow 96. 1 r

Referring to the square nut 98 seen in Figs. 11 and 12, it will be noted that the square nut is capable of being engaged by the same wrench and ratcheted thereto in spite of the fact that the maximum diametrical distance of the square nut 98 is substantially greater than that of the maximum diametrical distance of the hexagonal nut due to the fact, that the sliding block 18 is thicker than the difference betweenthe minimum and maximum diametrical distances or dimensions of both the square nut 98 and the hexagonal nut 95. It is to be particularly noted that the minimum diametrical dimensions of both the hexagonal nut 95 and the square nut 98 are the same whereas the maximum diametrical dimension of the square nut 98 is substantially larger than that of the hexagonal nut 95.

Referring to the operation of the modification of Figs. 5 and 6 it will be noted that the sliding blocks 19 and 20 are in driving relationship to the nut 95 in a rotational direction indicated by the arrow 99 whereas the wrench is capable of ratcheting past the nut 95 in the angular direction as indicated by the arrow 100; and it is to be noted that the sum of the thicknesses of the sliding blocks 19 and 20 is substantially greater than the maximum diametrical dimension of the hexagonal nut 95 so as to be easily ratchetable past the nut 95 as the distance between the jaws 16 and 15 is very ample and this is provided for the purpose of driving and ratcheting.

past a square nut having the same minimum diametrical dimension as the nut 95 but a substantially larger maximum diametrical dimension than the nut 96 as illustrated by the nut 98 of Figs. 11 and 12.

Referring to the operation of the wrench seen in Figs. 7-10, it is to be noted that the jaw integration and sliding block integration is somewhat similar to the devices seen in Figs. 5 and 6 relative to bypassing and engaging hexagonal and square nuts, however, the action of the spring biased walking beam 83 as connected to the sliding blocks 22 and 23 via the arms 79 and 80 respectively coordinates the movement of the sliding blocks 22 and i 23 so that they move in opposite directions equal distances thereby preventing the blocks striking and sticking and permitting the force of both springs 88 and 89 to be exerted against one of the blocks 22 or 23 which may have a tendency to stick under certain conditions for various reasons such as partial contact with a nut surface or clogging due to dust or dirt.

Relative to the structure of the variouswrenches, it is to be noted that slots are formed transversely through.

the core thereby permitting easy machining and manufacture and that the face plates are adapted to fit over the slots in the core and to hold the sliding block elements in position and reinforce the core in the slotted jaw areas.

All the embodiments of the wrenches are capable of not only ratcheting relative to hexagonal nuts but also relative to square nuts having a much larger maximum diametrical dimension and that all of the nuts are readily receivable through the open mouth and engageable between the parallel jaws as overlaid by the sliding blocks. Due to the integration and formation of the various parts and the structure of the device, all of the parts are easily and inexpensively made and the parts are easily repaired or replaced due to the fact that all parts of the wrench are easily obtained by removal of the securing screws and face plates.

The inventive wrenches with these features constitutes a compact, durable, neat appearing and easily maintainable mechanism easily operated to drive and to ratchet past a nut and presents a very fine and acceptable appearance to purchasers and users.

Although but three embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangement of the various elements of the invention within the scope'of the appendedclaims.

vopen mouth in said head for receiving and I claim:

'1. An unobstructed open mouth end wrench comprising a head, spaced parallel jaws on said head defining an holding a nut therein; said'head having a block receiving slot therein behind said mouth defined by an outside wall on the same plane as one said jaw and an inside wall parallel to and spaced from said outside wall a distance slightly larger than the block to be received therein; a block slidably disposed over onesaid jaw adjacent said slot to block an areain said head mouth to engage the nut and receivably in said slot to clear an area in said head to by-pass the nut, a spring urging said block outwardly into an area of said mouth so as to be engageable with the nut, and a stop limiting the outward travel of said block; said other jaw-and said block normally being capable of engaging the nut'to drive the nut in one rotational direction whereby said block is urged outwardly against said stop; said other jaw and said block being capable of by-passing the nut in the other rotational direction with said block being cammable into said head slot by the nut so as to clear said head mouth for nut rotation relative to said jaws.

2. In a wrench as set forth in claim 1, said block having a width dimension equal to the thickness of said jaws so as to provide a fiat nut engaging area equal to said aws.

3. In a wrench as set forth in claim 1, a second block slidably disposed over said other jaw, a spring urging said second block inwardly of said head mouth, a second stop limiting the inward travel of said second block; said blocks normally being capable of engaging the nut to drive the nut in one rotational direction whereby said blocks are urged against said stops; said stops being capable of bypassing the nut in the other rotational direction with said blocks being cammableby the nut out of the nut area of said head mouth so as-to clear said head mouth in the area of the nut for nut rotation relative to said jaws.

4. An unobstructed open mouth end wrench comprising a center core including a handle portion and a bifurcated head portion having a mouth defined by spaced parallel jaws capable of directly receiving a nut therebetween; said head having at least one slot therein adjacent at least one jaw communicating with said mouth via a relatively smaller slot; a sliding block disposed over said adjacent jaw; a stem on said block slidably lying in said smaller slot, a base on said stem slidably lying in said slot, a wall in said head defining said smaller slot confining said base in said slot, a spring in said slot engaging said base displaceably urging said base toward one end of said slot so as to displaceably bias said block toward one end of said jaw into a nut engaging position, and a wall at the end of said slot providing a stop for said base so as to limit the travel of said block to locate said block in a nut engaging position; said block and the opposite jaw being capable of rotating a nut in one direction whereby said wall prevents movement of said block; said block being capable of ratcheting past a nut in the opposite direction with said block moving so as to compress said spring, and face plates overlying both sides of said core in the area of said head to retain said block stem and base in the area of said core and to reinforce said head area.

5. In a wrench as set forth in claim 4, said head adjacent said other jaw having like slots oppositely disposed relative to said other jaw, a second block disposed over said other jaw, a second stem on said second block, a second base on said second stem, and a second spring urging said second base in a direction opposite to said first base to move said second block in a direction opposite to said block and so that said second block can travel against said spring in a direction opposite to said block; said second block being capable of driving a nut in the same rotational direction as said block and capable of ratcheting past a nut in the same .rotational direction as said block.

,6. An open month end wrench comprising a head adapted to be mounted on a handle, a bifurcated core portion in saidihead having at least one slot transversely therethrough constituting a slide-way and oppositely disposed parallel .jaws, a base slidably disposed in said slot,

a stemextending from said base, a block disposed on said istem an'd slidably disposed over one said jaw, a spring in said slot urging saidbaseand stern connected block into nut engaging position in said jaw relative to one wrench rotational .direction with said block being capable of ratcheting past anut in the opposite rotational direction by sliding relative to said jaw'by compressing said spring, and face plates overlying said head so as to retain said spring and basein said slot so as to slidably secure said block and to reinforce the jaw portion of said core.

7. In a wrench asset forth in claim 6, said wrench having a second slot constituting asecond slideway, a second base slidably disposed in said second slot, a second stem extending from said second base, a second block disposed on said second stem and slidably disposed over the other said jaw, a second=spring in said second slot urging said second base and stem connected blockinto nut engaging position-relative to said'other jaw; said blocks being oppositely disposed and urged by said springs in opposite lineal direction so as to be engageable with a nut in one wrench rotational direction and capable of ratcheting past a nut in the opposite rotational direction.

8. An unobstructed open mouth end wrench comprising ahead, spaced parallel jaws on said head defining an open mouth insaid head for receiving and holding the nut therein; said head having a block receiving slot therein behind said mouth defined by an outside Wall on the same plane as one said jaw and an inside wall parallel to and spaced from said outside wall a distance slightly larger than the block to be received therein; a block slidablydisposed over said jaw adjacent said slot to block :anaarea in. said :head mouth to engage the nut audmovablelin.saidslotto .clear an area in, said head to by-pass the nut, a spring urging said block outwardly into an area of said mouth so as to be engageable with the nut, and a stop limiting the outward travel of said block; said other jaw and said block normally being capable of engaging the nut to drive the nut in one rotational direction whereby said block is urged outwardly against said stop; said other jaw and said block being capable of by passing the nut in the other rotational direction with said block being cammable into said head slot by the nut so as to clear said head mouth for the nut rotation relative to said jaws, a second block slidably disposed over said other jaw, a spring urging said second block inwardly of said head mouth, a second stop limiting the inward travel of said second block; said blocks normally being capable of engaging the nut to drive the nut in one rotational direction whereby said blocks are urged against said stops; said stops being capable of by-passing the nut in the other rotational direction with said blocks being cammable by the nut out of the nut area of said head mouth so as to clear said head mouth in the area of the nut for the nut rotation relative to said jaws, a beam pivotally connected to one end of said beam and pivotally connected to one said block, and a second arm pivotally connected to the other end of said beam and pivotally connected to theother block; said beam and arms being capable of equalizing the travel of said blocks in by-passing the nut and to equally position said blocks in said head mouth to engage the nut; said springs being in contact with said beam so as to resiliently urge said blocks via said beam and arms into the nut engaging position.

9. An unobstructed open month end wrench comprising a center core including a handle portion and a bifurcated head portion having a mouth defined by spaced parallel jaws capable of directly receiving the nut therebetween; said head having at least one slot therein advia a relatively smaller slot; a sliding block disposed over said adjacent jaw; a'stem ori saidblock slidably lying in saidsmaller slot, a base on said stem slidably lying in said slot,a wall in said head defining said smaller slot confining said base in said slot, a spring in said ,slot engaging said basedisplaceably urging said base toward one end of said slot so as to displaceably bias said block toward one end of said jaw into the nut engaging position, and a wall at the end of said slot providing a stop for said base so as to limit the travel of said block to locate said block in the nut engaging position; said block and the opposite jaw being capable of rotating the nut in one direction whereby said wall prevents movement of said block; said block being capable of ratcheting past the nut inthe opposite direction with said block moving so as to co'mpresssaid spring, and face plates overlying both sides of said core in thearea of said head to retain said block stern and base in the area of said core and to reinforce said head area; said head adjacent said other jaw having like slots oppositely disposed relative to said other jaw, a second block "disposed over said other jaw, a secondstem on said second block, a second base on said second stem, and a second spring urging said second base in a direction opposite to said first base to move said second block in a direction opposite to said block and so that said second block can travel against said spring in a direction opposite to said block; said second block being capable ofdriving the nut in the same rotational direc tion as said block and capable of ratcheting past the nutin the same rotational direction as said block, a walking beam pivotally disposed in said head, a first arm pivotally connected between one end of said beam and one said block, and a second arm pivotally connected between the other end of said beam and said other block; said beam and arms being adapted to equalize the travel and positions of said blocks.

10. Anopen mouth end wrench comprising a head adapted to be mounted on a handle, a bifurcated core portion in said head having at least one slot transversely therethrough constituting a slideway and oppositely disposed parallel jaws, abase slidably disposed in said slot,

a stern extending from said base, a block disposed on said stem and slidably disposed over one said jaw, a spring in said slot urging said base'andflstem connected block into the nut engaging position in said jaw relative to one wrench rotational direction with said block being capa ble of ratcheting past the nut in the opposite rotational direction by sliding relative to said jaw by compressing said spring, and face plates overlying said head so as to retain said spring and base in said slot so as to slidably secure said block and to reinforce the jaw portion of said core; said wrench having a second slot constituting a second slideway, a second base slidably disposed in said second slot, a second stem extending from said second base, a second block disposed on-said second stern and slidably disposed over the other said jaw, a second spring in said second slot urging said second base and stem connected block into the nut engaging position relative to said other jaw; said blocks being oppositely disposed and urged by said springs in opposite lineal direction so as'to be engageable with the nut in one wrench rotational direction and capable of ratcheting past the nut in the opposite rotational direction; said blocks being interconnected by linkage to insure equal travel and positioning.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

